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heet。　It　is　called　that　because　it　is
supposed　to　balance　assets　against　liabilities。　Many　financial　novices　don't　know　the　relationship　between　the　Ine　Statement　and　the　Balance　Sheet。　That　relationship　is　vital　to　understand。
The　primary　cause　of　financial　struggle　is　simply　not　knowing　the　difference　between　an　asset　and　a　liability。　The　cause　of　the　confusion　is　found　in　the　definition　of　the　two　words。　If　you　want　a　lesson　in　confusion；　simply　look　up　the　words　〃asset〃　and　〃liability〃　in　the　dictionary。
Now　it　may　make　sense　to　trained　accountants；　but　to　the　average　person；　it　may　as　well　be　written　in　Mandarin。　You　read　the　words　in　the　definition；　but　true　prehension　is　difficult。
So　as　I　said　earlier；　my　rich　dad　simply　told　two　young　boys　that　〃assets　put　money　in　your　pocket。〃　Nice；　simple　and　usable。

〃This　is　Cash　Flow　pattern　of　a　liability。〃

Now　that　assets　and　liabilities　have　been　defined　through　pictures；　it　may　be　easier　to　understand　my　definitions　in　words。
An　asset　is　something　that　puts　money　in　my　pocket。
A　liability　is　something　that　takes　money　out　of　my　pocket。
This　is　really　all　you　need　to　know。　If　you　want　to　be　rich；　simply　spend　your　life　buying　assets。　If　you　want　to　be　poor　or　middle　class；　spend　your　life　buying　liabilities。　It's　not　knowing　the　difference　that　causes　most　of　the　financial　struggle　in　the　real　world。
Illiteracy；　both　in　words　and　numbers；　is　the　foundation　of　financial　struggle。　If　people　are　having　difficulties　financially；　there　is　something　that　they　cannot　read；　either　in　numbers　or　words。　Something　is　misunderstood。　The　rich　are　rich　because　they　are　more　literate　in　different　areas　than　people　who　struggle　financially。　　So　if　you　want　to　be　rich　and　maintain　your　wealth；　it's　important　to　be　financially　literate；　in　words　as　well　as　numbers。
The　arrows　in　the　diagrams　represent　the　flow　of　cash；　or　〃cash　flow。〃　Numbers　alone　really　mean　little。　Just　as　words　alone　mean　little。　It's　the　story　that　counts。　In　financial　reporting；　reading　numbers　is　looking　for　the　plot；　the　story。　The　story　of　where　the　cash　is　flowing。　In　80　percent　of　most　families；　the　financial　story　is　a　story　of　working　hard　in　an　effort　to　get　ahead。　　Not　because　they　don't　make　money。　But　because　they　spend　their　lives　buying　liabilities　instead　of　assets。
For　instance；　this　is　the　cash　flow　pattern　of　a　poor　person；　or　a　young　person　still　at　home：

Job　（provides　ine）…》　Expenses（Taxes　Food　Rent　Clothes　Fun　Transportation）
Asset　（none）
Liability　（none）

This　is　the　cash　flow　pattern　of　a　person　in　the　middle　class：

Job　（provides　ine）…》　Expenses（Taxes　Food　Mortgage　Clothes　Fun　Transportation）
Asset　（none）
Liability　（Mortgage　Consumer　loans　Credit　Cards）

This　is　the　cash　flow　pattern　of　a　wealthy　person：

Assets（stocks　bonds　notes　real　estate　intellectual　property）…》ine　（dividends　interest　rental　ine　royalties）
Liabilities　（none）

All　of　these　diagrams　were　obviously　oversimplified。　Everyone　has　living　expenses；　the　need　for　food；　shelter　and　clothing。
The　diagrams　show　the　flow　of　cash　through　a　poor；　middle　class　or　wealthy　person's　life。　It　is　the　cash　flow　that　tells　the　story。　It　is　the　story　of　how　a　person　handles　their　money；　what　they　do　after　they　get　the　money　in　their　hand。
The　reason　I　started　with　the　story　of　the　richest　men　in　America　is　to　illustrate　the　flaw　in　the　thinking　of　so　many　people。　The　flaw　is　that　money　will　solve　all　problems。　That　is　why　I　cringe　whenever　1　hear　people　ask　me　how　to　get　rich　quicker。　　Or　where　do　they　start？　I　often　hear；　〃I'm　in　debt　so　I　need　lo　make　more　money。〃
But　more　money　will　often　not　solve　the　problem；　in　fact；　it　may　actually　accelerate　the　problem。　Money　often　makes　obvious　our　tragic　human　flaws。　　Money　often　puts　a　spotlight　on　what　we　do　not　know。　That　is　why；　all　too　often；　a　person　who　es　into　a　sudden　windfall　of　cash…let's　say　an　inheritance；　a　pay　raise　or　lottery　winnings…soon　returns　to　the　same　financial　mess；　if　not　worse　than　the　mess　they　were　in　before　they　received　the　money。　　Money　only　accentuates　the　cash　flow　pattern　running　in　your　head。　　If　your　pattern　is　to　spend　everything　you　get；　most　likely　an　increase　in　cash　will　just　result　in　an　increase　in　spending。　Thus；　the　saying；　〃A　fool　and　his　money　is　one　big　party；〃　I　have　said　many　times　that　we　go　to　school　to　gain　scholastic　skills　and　professional　skills；　both　important。　We　learn　to　make　money　with　our　professional　skills。　In　the　1960s；　when　I　was　in　high　school；　if　someone　did　well　in　school　academically；　almost　immediately　people　assumed　this　bright　student　would　go　on　to　be　a　medical　doctor。　　Often　no　one　asked　the　child　if　they　wanted　to　be　a　doctor。　　It　was　assumed。　　It　was　the　profession　with　the　promise　of　the　greatest　financial　reward。
Today；　doctors　are　facing　financial　challenges　I　would　not　wish　on　my　worst　enemy；　insurance　panies　taking　control　of　the　business；　managed　health　care；　government　intervention；　and　malpractice　suits；　to　name　a　few。　Today；　kids　want　to　be　basketball　stars；　golfers　like　Tiger　Woods；　puter　nerds；　movie　stare；　rock　stars；　beauty　queens；　or　traders　on　Wall　Street。　　Simply　because　that　is　where　the　fame；　money　and　prestige　is。　That　is　the　reason　it　is　so　hard　to　motivate　kids　in　school　today。　They　know　that　professional　success　is　no　longer　solely　linked　to　academic　success；　as　it　once　was。
Because　students　leave　school　without　financial　skills；　millions　of　educated　people　pursue　their　profession　successfully；　but　later　find　themselves　struggling　financially。　They　work　harder；　but　don't　get　ahead。　What　is　missing　from　their　education　is　not　how　to　make　money；　but　how　to　spend　money…what　to　do　after　you　make　it。　　It's　called　financial　aptitude…what　you　do　with　the　money　once　you　make　it；　how　to　keep　people　from　taking　it　from　you；　how　long　you　keep　it；　and　how　hard　that　money　works　for　you。　Most　people　cannot　tell　why　they　struggle　financially　because　they　don't　understand　cash　flow。　A　person　can　be　highly　educated；　professionally　successful　and　financially　illiterate。　These　people　often　work　harder　than　they　need　to　because　they　learned　how　to　work　hard；　but　not　how　to　have　their　money　work　for　them。
The　story　of　bow　the　quest　for　a　Financial　Dream　turns　into　a　financial　nightmare。　The　moving…picture　show　of　hard…working　people　has　a　set　pattern。　Recently　married；　the　happy；　highly　educated　young　couple　move　in　together；　in　one　of　their　cramped　rented　apartments。　　　Immediately；　they　realize　that　they　are　saving　money　because　two　can　live　as　cheaply　as
one。
The　problem　is；　the　apartment　is　cramped。　　They　decide　to　save　money　to　buy　their　dream　home　so　they　can　have　kids。　They　now　have　two　ines；　and　they　begin　to　focus　on　their　careers。
Their　ines　begin　to　increase。
As　their　ines　go　up。。。their　expenses　go　up　as　well。
The　No。　1　expense　for　most　people　is　taxes。　Many　people　think　it's　ine　tax；　but　for　most　Americans　their　highest　tax　is　Social　Security。　As　an　employee；　it　appears　as　if　the　Social　Security　tax　bined　with　the　Medicare　tax　rate　is　roughly　7。5　percent；　but　it's　really　15　percent　since　the　employer　must　match　the　Social　Security　amount。　In　essence；　it　is　money　the　employer　cannot　pay　you。　　On　top　of　that；　you　still　have　to　pay　ine　tax　on　the　amount　deducted　from　your　wages　for　Social　Security　tax；　ine　you　never　receive　because　it　went　directly　to　Social　Security　through　withholding。　　Then；　their　liabilities　go　up。
This　is　best　demonstrated　by　going　back　to　the　young　couple。　As　a　result　of　their　ines　going　up；　they　decide　to　go　out　and　buy　the　house　of　their　dreams。　　Once　in　their　house；　they　have　a　new　tax；　called　property　tax。　Then；　they　buy　a　new　car；　new　furniture　and　new　appliances　to　match　＇heir　new　house。　Ail　of　a　sudden；　they　wake　up　and　their　liabilities　column　is　full　of　mortgage　debt　and　credit…card　debt。
They're　now　trapped　in　the　rat　race。　A　child　es　along。　They　work　harder。　　The　process　repeats　itself。　　More　money　and　higher　taxes；　also　called　bracket　creep；　A　credit　card　es　in　the　mail。　They　use　it。　It　maxes　out。　　A　loan　pany　calls　and　says　their　greatest　〃asset；〃　their　home；　has　appreciated　in　value。　The　pany　offers　a　〃bill　consolidation〃　loan；　because　their　credit　is　so　good；　and　tells　them　the　intelligent　thing　to　do　is　clear　off　the　high…interest　consumer　debt　by　paying　off　their　credit　card。　And　besides；　interest　on　their　home　is　a　tax　deduction。　They　go　for　it；　and　pay　off　those　high…interest　credit　cards。　They　breathe　a　sigh　of　relief。　Their　credit　cards　are　paid　off。　They've　now　folded　their　consumer　debt　into　their　home　mortgage。　　Their　payments　go　down　because　they　extend　their　debt　over　30　years。　　It　is　the　smart　thing　to　do。
Their　neighbor　calls　to　invite　them　to　go　shopping…the　Memorial　Day　sale　is　on。　A　chance　to　save　some　money。　They　say　to　themselves；　〃I　won't　buy　anything。　I'll　just　go　look。〃　But　just　in　case　they　find　something；　they　tuck　that　clean　credit　card　inside　their　wallet。
I　run　into　this　young　couple　all　the　time。　Their　names　change；　but　their　financial　dilemma　is　the　same。　They　e　to　one　of　my　talks　to　hear　what　I　have　to　say。　They　ask　me；　〃Can　you　tell　us　how　to　make　more　money？〃　Their　spending　habits　have　caused　them　to　seek　more　ine。
They　don't　even　know　that　the　trouble　is　really　how　they　choose　to　spend　the　money　they　do　have；　and　that　is　the　real　cause　of　their　financial　struggle。　It　is　caused　by　financial　illiteracy　and　not　understanding　the　difference　between　an　asset　and　a　liability。
More　money　seldom　solves　someone's　money　problems。　　Intelligence　solves　problems；　There　is　a　saying　a　friend　of　mine　says　over　and　over　to　people　in　debt。
〃If　you　find　you　have　dug　yourself　into　a　hole。。。　stop　digging。〃
As　a　child；　my　dad　often　told　us　that　the　Japanese　were　aware　of　three　powers；　〃The　power　of　the　sword；　the　jewel　and　the　mirror。〃
The　sword　symbolizes　the　power　of　weapons。　America　has　spent　trillions　of　dollars　on　weapons　and；　because　of　this；　is　the　supreme　military　presence　in　the　world。
The　jewel　symbolizes　the　power　of　money。　There　is　some　degree　of　truth　to　the　saying；　〃Remember　the　golden　rule。　He　who　has　the　gold　makes　the　rules。〃
The　mirror　symbolizes　the　power　of　self…knowledge。　This　self…knowledge；　according　to　Japanese　legend；　was　the　most　treasured　of　the　three。
The　poor　and　middle　class　all　loo　often　allow　the　power　of　money　to　control　them。　By　simply　getting　up　and　working　harder；　failing　to　ask　themselves　if　what　they　do　makes　sense；　they　shoot　themselves　in　the　foot　as　they　leave　for　work　every　morning。　By　not　fully　understanding　nioney；　the　vast　majority　of　people　allow　the　awesome　power　of　money　to　control　them。　The　power　of　money　is　used　against　them。
If　they　used　the　power　of　the　mirror；　they　would　have　asked　themselves；　　〃Does　this　make　sense？〃　All　too　often；　instead　of　trusting　their　inner　wisdom；　that　genius　inside　of　them；　most　people　go　along　with　the　crowd。　They　do　things　because　everybody　else　does　it。　They　　conform　rather　than　question。　　Often；　they　mindlessly　repeat　what　they　have　been　told。　Ideas　such　as　〃diversify〃　or　〃your　home　is　an　asset。〃　〃Your　home　is　your　biggest　investment。〃　　〃You　get　a　tax　break　for　going　into　greater　debt。〃　　〃Get　a　safe　job。〃　〃Don't　make　mistakes。〃　　〃Don't　take　risks。〃
It　is　said　that　the　fear　of　public　speaking　is　a　fear　greater　than　death　for　most　people。　According　to　psychiatrists；　the　fear　of　public　speaking　is　caused　by　the　fear　of　ostracism；　the　fear　of　standing　out；　the　fear　of　criticism；　the　fear　of　ridicule；　the　fear　of　being　an　outcast。　The　fear　of　being　different　prevents　most　people　from　seeking　new　ways　to　solve　their　problems。
That　is　why　my　educated　dad　said　the　Japanese　valued　the　power　of　the　mirror　the　most；　for　it　is　only　when　we　as　humans　look　into　the　mirror　do　we　find　truth。　And　the　main　reason　that　most　people　say　〃Play　it　safe1'　is　out　of　fear。　That　goes　for　anything；　be　it　sports；　relationships；　career；　money。
It　is　that　same　fear；　the　fear　of　ostracism　that　causes　people　to　conform　and　not　question　monly　accepted　opinions　or　popular　trends。　　〃Your　home　is　an　asset。〃　〃Get　a　bill　consolidation　loan　and　get　out　of　debt。〃　　〃Work　harder。〃　　〃It's　a　promotion。〃　〃Someday　I'll　be　a　vice　president。〃　〃Save　money。〃　〃When　！　get　a　raise；　I'll　buy　us　a　bigger　house。〃